About Us

About Us

Vibration Free is an independent consultancy

Established in 1998 Vibration Free specialise in Dynamic Balancing and Vibration Analysis with applications throughout all aspects of industry; Manufacturing, Machine Tool, Oil and Gas, Motor Sport, Waste Management.

We get involved in balancing all reciprocating parts from small component parts such as spindles, flywheels and fans to huge turbines. Vibration Free are well placed to offer cost effective sub-contract balancing services for companies wanting to outsource their balancing.

No job is too big or small!

Vibration Free is based in Oxfordshire and is easily accessible to the M40 (near junction 10) and the M1. Our workshop facility has various balancing machines that can accomodate rotors from a few grams up to 3000kg, a small machine shop and training room. Two car ramps are available for in-situ vehicle analysis.

Vibration Free founder and Chief Engineer Steve Smith has a back ground in marine engineering where he gained experience in all things mechanical, electrical and marine.

He then moved onto working for IRD Mechanalysis and a world of vibration and dynamic balancing. This brought Steve a wealth of experience in the field of vibration analysis and dynamic balancing, involving all manner of applications – from 300 tonne power station turbine rotors to satellites.

Through his interest in dynamic balancing, Steve became involved in motorsport. He was involved in balancing the Le Mans Jaguar V12 engines and early turbo charged Cosworth touring cars. Steve left IRD to manage a condition-monitoring group within a service and repair company, and was introduced to new analysis tools – infrared thermo graphic cameras, oil analysis and high voltage partial discharge analysis – all used to support customer condition monitoring programmes. Following this was a move to the oil and gas industry with a prominent consulting house, applying maintenance strategies to new build oil platforms.

In 1998, with a desire to get his ‘hands dirty’ again, Steve started his own balancing business – concentrating on the machine tool sector. The move to Oxford in 2001 (and near to all things motorsport) resulted in a surge of motorsport projects. Steve’s own motorsport successes and reputation for engines that “sing”, brings work in from all classes and formula, right up to the F1 businesses.

“Vibration is unnecessary and a waste of resource” says Steve, “understanding dynamic movement and getting rid of it, is what I enjoy and do best!”.

Motor Racing Passion

Steve’s 2nd road car was a Sunbeam Alpine in 1980, so it was logical in 1990 to go racing with one. “MUD” was the result. At the beginning it was pretty slow, but by the end of 2004, it was still fairly pretty and respectfully damn quick. That’s 14 years of Alpine development. MUD has now moved on to a new racing home, which made room for the 1965 Ford Mustang. Steve campaigned this car for several years at Spa.

More recently Steve can be found on the VSCC circuit with the family enjoying the trialling scene in “Bess” the 1930 Ford Model A and racing with the 1935 Hotchkiss Brooklands race car. More recently racing with his daughter in the 1928 special “Mord” a Morris Minor chassis powered by a Ford Model A Engine seen recently at Cadwell Park Formula Vintage and Prescott hill Climb

Other projects have included:

A fifteen foot 1956 aluminium hulled ski boat that is in need of TLC and an engine. Step up one Alfa 3.0 V6.